IGIHE

Author: Serge Iradukunda

  • Employees of Akagera Business Group and Toyota Rwanda Commemorate the Victims of the Genocide Against the Tutsi

    The event began with a visit to the memorial on April 25, 2024, followed by discussions at the offices of Akagera Business Group and Toyota Rwanda in Karuruma, Jali Sector, Gasabo District. The discussions focused on the history of the Genocide against the Tutsi.

    Faustin Mafeza, a researcher at the Ministry of Unity of Rwandans and Civic Engagement (Minubumwe), spoke about how the genocide against the Tutsi was not unexpected, as there had been a history of hate speech that dehumanized the Tutsi. He highlighted some of the ideologues of the genocide, including Joseph Gitera Habyarimana.

    He said, “This Joseph Gitera Habyarimana spread the ideology of hatred against the Tutsi through the 18 Hutu commandments, which he concocted and announced during his party’s meetings in Butare on the date I mentioned, September 27, 1959.”

    Nicole Mudenge, who survived the genocide and is the child of a former employee of ‘La Rwandaise’ commemorated today, reinforced that the Tutsi had been subjected to brutal acts even before the 1994 genocide. Mudenge, who was 10 years old during the genocide, shared how teachers did not hesitate to humiliate Tutsi children in front of their peers who were yet to understand ethnic divisions.

    “I was in elementary school, I remember a teacher named Noëlle, who was my neighbor but also taught me at school. I don’t remember what lesson we were on, but I remember she called me out to the front of the class alone, not knowing why she had called me.”

    “She put me in front of the students, I was wearing a blue dress the kind of uniform students wore back then, which had a belt. She tightened the belt around my stomach until it hurt, then told all the other students to look at me, saying, ‘this is what Tutsi children look like’.”

    Solange Mukanizeyimana, the secretary of IBUKA in Gasabo District, who attended the event, noted that those who were not present during the planning and execution of the Genocide against the Tutsi might perceive it as distant history or an exaggerated story, possibly doubting its occurrence. However, the survivors are witnesses to its reality because they lived through those events.

    Senthil Ganesh Shanbagamoorthy, the Managing Director of Akagera Business Group, emphasized that considering the history of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, the world has a duty to teach young people to grow up with love and respect for fellow human being, avoid discrimination in all forms, and to ensure that such atrocities do not occur anywhere, again. He lauded and was extremely proud of the immeasurable efforts that the nation have put in to reconcile such a painful past, to make the glorious Rwanda that it stands today! Hats off.
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  • Reprieve for Sunak as UK finally passes bill to send asylum seekers to Rwanda

    The bill, part of the government’s strategy to deter illegal migrants from arriving in the UK via small boats across the English Channel, passed after securing approval from the Upper House, which had proposed several amendments.

    The Lords had refused to pass the bill without further amendments, including the inclusion of a provision exempting agents, allies, and employees of the UK overseas, including Afghans who fought alongside the British Armed Forces, from being removed to Rwanda.

    The Lords also demanded tighter checks on the safety of Rwanda for asylum seekers to ensure the scheme had “due regard” for domestic and international law.

    But after weeks of parliamentary ping-pong, the Lords gave way and let the bill pass without any formal changes. The passing of the bill paves the way for Royal Assent from King Charles later this week, after which it will become law.

    The legislation sailed through the Upper House moments after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the government would force Parliament to sit as late into Monday night as necessary to get the bill passed.

    “Enough is enough. No more prevarication. No more delay. Parliament will sit tonight and vote no matter how late it goes. No ifs, no buts. These flights are going to Rwanda,” Sunak said during a media briefing on Monday.

    He affirmed that the first flight will take off to Rwanda in July despite strong opposition from the Labour party, which resulted in the missing of March to June deadline initially set by the authorities.

    The scheme was first announced in April 2022 by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government following a deal with Rwandan authorities.

    The bill was introduced to Parliament after the UK Supreme Court ruled that the government’s scheme was unlawful. The judges argued that genuine refugees being removed to Rwanda faced the risk of being returned to their home countries, where they could face harm.

    The UK plans to offer failed asylum seekers up to £3,000 (Rwf4,866,727) to move to Rwanda under the new voluntary scheme.
    The bill passed after securing approval from the Upper House, which had proposed several amendments

  • Survivors of Genocide against the Tutsi want Blinken to retract vague ‘Kwibuka30’ statement

    Through Ibuka, an umbrella organization of survivors, associations, concerned individuals, and other organizations that fight against the 1994 atrocities, the survivors took issue with Blinken’s statement posted on X platform on April 7, terming it as shocking, offending, and misleading.

    According to Ibuka, Blinken’s post failed to highlight the specific target of the 1994 Genocide – members of the Tutsi community – who were marked for extermination, as established by the Trial Chamber of the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).

    Blinken had, in a blanket statement that drew condemnation, said the Genocide targeted the Tutsis, Hutus, and Twas in Rwanda.

    “Honorable Secretary of State Blinken, in not explicitly stating that the genocide specifically targeted Tutsi, your statement obscures the primary, intended victims. While some Hutus and Twas also lost their lives, they were not the primary targets; the genocide overwhelmingly aimed at exterminating the Tutsi population. Indeed, it was extremist Hutu factions who orchestrated these atrocities,” the letter signed by senior officials of the organization reads in part.

    The survivors lamented that the statement blatantly contradicted the definition of genocide as stipulated in Article II of the UN Convention on Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide as adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 8, 1948.

    “Therein, genocide is defined as a ‘crime committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such,’” Ibuka noted.

    The organization stated that it was impossible that the 1994 genocide targeted “Tutsis, Hutus, Twas, and others” indiscriminately as purported by Blinken.

    “That would mean there were three separate genocides in Rwanda – one against each group. Alternatively, a single genocide against the Rwandan national group, which would mean that victims would have been targeted, not for their “ethnicity” but for their Rwandan nationality. And we know that both options are historically not true,” Ibuka added.

    Blinken’s statement, Ibuka stated, had retraumatized many survivors and exacerbated their pain and undermined the effort to advance knowledge and understanding of the genocide and human rights.

    The survivors now want Blinken to retract the statement and issue a fresh one that doesn’t distort facts about the Genocide against the Tutsi that left more than one million people dead.

    “Thus, we are profoundly hurt and outraged by your misleading statement issued on a day of mourning and reflection for the loss of Tutsi lives. We urge you to rectify this misrepresentation by retracting your previous statement and issuing a new one that accurately reflects the historical truths of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi,” they demanded.

    Recently, Trent Kelly, a member of the House of Representatives from Mississippi’s 1st congressional district also called on the US government to adopt the correct name for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

    He said he had introduced a resolution calling for the government to adopt the official definition of the Genocide, a move he said would ensure lessons from Rwanda’s painful history are not forgotten.

    The congressman spoke at Capitol Hill in Washington D.C, where members of the Diplomatic corps, congress, academia, media, Rwandan community and friends of Rwanda gathered to honour the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
    Survivors of the Genocide against the Tutsi want Blinken (pictured) to retract vague ‘Kwibuka30’ statement.

  • Indian church constructing multi-billion state-of-the-art hospital in Rwanda

    Addressing members of the press on Saturday, April 20, 2024, Deacon Jimmy John Simon, a representative of the church, said the 220-bed facility will be constructed alongside a university and research center, to help train healthcare professionals and aid in the local production of drugs.

    The project, being undertaken at Kanombe in Kicukiro district, is estimated to cost $60 million (RWF 76.76 billion), with completion scheduled for the end of 2025.

    Deacon Simon said the facility will be known as Believers Hospital and Research Center upon completion and will contribute to the advancement of healthcare in Africa.

    “We are in the eighth month of construction, and hopefully, we should finish by the end of 2025. It should be ready by early 2026,” Deacon Simon told reporters.

    “As per my research, only one to five percent of the medicines in Africa is produced locally. The rest are being imported. We want to change that so that all the medicines and technologies can be locally available,” he added.

    The facility will be equipped with modern equipment and will offer a wide range of specialised services including cardiology and dermatology.

    The initiative to build the hospital and research center in Rwanda, Deacon Simon revealed, followed discussions with a former ambassador of Rwanda to India and the country’s progress and leadership under President Paul Kagame.

    “The former ambassador of Rwanda to India had come to our hospital and seen the facilities and services that we provide. He asked the leaders of our church, ‘Why not bring these facilities to Rwanda?’ We were curious, thinking that it’s in Africa. We had our fears,” he stated.

    The envoy had visited India and was impressed by the success of a similar 1000-bed capacity hospital in the Asian country, which also trains and releases 200 doctors and nurses to the market every year.

    Deacon Simon said that despite initial fears about investing in Rwanda, the perception changed upon their visit to Rwanda.

    “When we researched and initially came to this country, the perception changed. Rwanda is not what we thought about. It’s so safe. It’s one of the safest countries in Africa and, I would say, in the world. It’s so clean. I am proud of our President, His Excellency Paul Kagame, for his exemplary governance and leadership. The best example any people can have. The way the country is now is excellent,” he stated.

    “Looking at all these positive things about Rwanda we said it is the best place to bring this facility and serve the people of Africa,” he added.

    Deacon Simon affirmed that the hospital will reduce the cost incurred by patients to travel to countries such as India to seek treatment.

    “By bringing this hospital here with all the technology and medical professional you reduce the cost of travel and at the same get the best treatment possible within your own country,” he averred.

    To increase access to healthcare for all Rwandans, the church aims to collaborate with the government to ensure everyone can use health insurance schemes like Mutuelle de santé at the hospital.

    Deacon Simon insisted that the facility would be a mission hospital offering services at affordable rates.

    “As a church we don’t see as a business. We see this as a mission hospital. We are here to serve not to create business or profit,” he said.

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  • Ruto reveals why he appointed Ogolla as Kenya’s CDF despite attempt to overturn his victory

    Gen. Ogolla was among 10 military officers killed in a helicopter crash at the Sindar area in Elgeyo Marakwet County on Thursday afternoon.

    Speaking during a memorial service for the late military chief held at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Lang’ata, Nairobi on Saturday, the Head of State disclosed that his advisors had warned him against appointing Ogolla as CDF, citing claims that he was among senior officials in the National Security Committee who attempted to overturn his victory in the August 2022 presidential election.

    The claims were first made by former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson Wafula Chebukati in his presentation to the Supreme Court after the disputed presidential poll that pitted Ruto against the longstanding opposition leader Raila Odinga.

    Chebukati, in a sworn affidavit, told the Apex Court that the National Security Advisory Committee, formed ahead of the presidential contest and comprising Ogolla, then a Vice Chief of Defence Forces, had asked him to alter the election results to force a run-off in the event he was unable to declare Raila Odinga the winner.

    Revisiting the claims yesterday, President Ruto said when he was sworn in as president, he convened a closed-door “Come to Jesus” meeting with Ogolla to establish facts about the claims.

    At the meeting, President Ruto said, Ogolla acknowledged the attempt to subvert the will of the people, and gave the Commander-in-Chief three options: send him to court martial, force him retire, or pardon him.

    “I asked Ogolla for a meeting. And I had one-on-one, man-to-man, come-to-Jesus meeting with General Ogolla,” Ruto said.

    “He said Mr President, I have no defence. I will not try and defend myself. It was wrong and you have three choices: send me to court martial, have me retire, or forgive me,” he added.
    After the meeting, the President said he reflected on Ogolla’s words drawing parallels to his own experiences and legal battles at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, where he was charged with crimes against humanity over Kenya’s 2007-2008 Post-Election violence which claimed the lives of over 1,200 people and left more than 500,000 others displaced.

    “That evening, I went home and reflected on what Ogolla had told me. In the reflection, I through of my own story and my own episode at the ICC at The Hague where circumstances conspired and I was there,” he stated.

    “I also reflected on the brief that I had been given when I came into office as President where I was told to think carefully about who I would appoint as Interior minister, Director General of NIS, Inspector General of Police and CDF.”

    After careful consideration, Ruto revealed that he settled on Ogolla as CDF due to his outstanding qualifications.

    “I made a conscious decision to take a different trajectory, where professionalism and competency must come before ethnicity, and I made up my mind that Ogolla deserved to be CDF and it is an appointment I am proud of,” President Ruto averred.

    Ogolla took over the CDF mantle from Gen. Robert Kibochi whose term ended after 44 years in the military.

    The late General will be laid to rest today at his rural home in Mor Village, Siaya County, in line with his wish to be buried within 72 hours after his demise.

  • President Kagame mourns victims of Kenyan military chopper crash

    In a statement on Friday, the Rwandan Head of State eulogised Gen. Ogolla as a soldier who served with great professionalism and humility.

    “I send my heartfelt condolences to President William Ruto, the family, and loved ones of the victims of the plane crash, including Chief of Defense Forces General Ogolla, who will be remembered for his professionalism and humility in his service,” Kagame wrote.

    President Ruto confirmed the death of Gen. Ogolla in a press conference from State House in Nairobi on Thursday night.

    The CDF and nine others died after a military helicopter they were travelling crashed at the Sindar area in Elgeyo Marakwet County on Thursday afternoon at around 2:20pm.

    “Today, at 2:20pm, our nation suffered a tragic air accident in Sindar area, Keben location, Tot division, in Elgeyo Marakwet County. I am deeply saddened to announce the passing on of General Francis Omondi Ogolla, the Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces,” he said.

    In his tribute, President Ruto said the country had lost one of her most valiant generals and servicemen.

    “This is a moment of great sadness for myself, as the Commander in Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, the Kenya Defence Forces fraternity, and the nation at large. The demise of General Ogolla is a painful loss to me, and certainly, the sorrow we all feel about his passing is shared by all the people of Kenya, especially the KDF fraternity. A distinguished four-star general has fallen in the course of duty, and service to the country,” he added.

    The ill-fated chopper was carrying 12 military officers at the time of the crash. The President said there were only two survivors.

    Others who perished in the air crash were Brigadier Swale Saidi, Colonel Duncan Keittany, Lieutenant Colonel David Sawe, Major George Benson Magondu (Pilot), Captain Sora Mohamed, Captain Hillary Litali, Senior Sergeant John Kinyua Mureithi, Sergeant Cliphonce Omondi, and Sergeant Rose Nyawira.

    “I convey my deepest condolences to all families that are grieving this untimely loss, and our mourning nation as well. I also wish quick recovery to the two injured soldiers in this accident,” President Ruto added.

    He said a team of investigative officers from the Kenya Air Force had been dispatched to probe the cause of crash, even as he announced a three day of national mourning in honour of the fallen General.

    Gen. Ogolla died nearly a year after he was sworn in as Kenya’s military boss on April 29, 2023.

    He took over the CDF mantle from Gen. Robert Kibochi whose term ended after 44 years in the military.

    Prior to assuming the CDF role, Ogolla served as the Commander of the Air Force and Vice Chief of Defence Forces.

  • BRD recognized at the Environmental Finance Sustainable Debt Awards

    The recognition by Environmental Finance follows BRD’s inaugural Rwf30 billion bond issue in September 2023, in partnership with the World Bank. The bond which was listed on the Rwanda Stock Exchange was issued in a bid to mobilise private capital and to diversify its funding sources, which aligns with Rwanda’s sustainable development goals.

    The Development Bank of Rwanda’s inaugural bond’s structure was support by three Key Performance Indicators which include increasing environmental, social and governance compliance in the financial sector, increasing loans to women-led SMEs from 15% to 30% of BRD’s portfolio, and financing affordable housing by 2028.

    Speaking at the launch of BRD’s inaugural bond in September 2023, CEO Kampeta Sayinzoga pointed out that by issuing the first ever bond, BRD is effectively diversifying its source of development finance by tapping into the local capital market for the first time which will ensure that BRD is no longer solely reliant on international credit lines thereby further sophisticating its resource mobilization efforts.

    “We are also happy to report that the proceedings of Sustainability Linked Bond are currently being utilized as intended.”

    As of January 2024, it was confirmed that Rw15 billion of the Rwf 30 billion would be allocated to Kigali bus operators in a bid to curb the challenges being faced by Kigali’s public transportation system.

    The Environmental Finance Sustainable Debt Awards celebrate the leading green, social, sustainable, and sustainability-linked bond and loan deals and recognize market innovations. The Awards also seek to recognize those that excel, innovate, and contribute to the successful development of the market.

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  • Israel responds with retaliatory strikes against Iran

    A US official confirmed the attack to CNN, reports that were corroborated by several other international media outlets, including BBC and Al Jazeera.

    However, an Iranian official told CNN that their air defenses intercepted three drones, insisting that there were no reports of a missile attack.

    The BBC reported that blasts were heard in the central province of Isfahan but noted that the target of the attack remains unclear.

    The strike came against the backdrop of Iran’s support for the Palestinian Hamas militant group, whose assault into Israel on October 7, 2023, triggered Israel’s invasion of Gaza.

    Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles against Israel on Saturday night in a retaliatory attack, which the country attributed to an Israeli raid on the Iranian consulate in Syria that killed seven senior military personnel.

    On Sunday, the country urged Israel not to retaliate, saying “the matter can be deemed concluded.” Iran, while acknowledging its commitment to resolving the conflict amicably, warned that any further provocations would result in a severe response.

    “The Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate to exercise its inherent right of self-defense when required. Should the Israeli regime commit any military aggression again, Iran’s response will assuredly and decisively be stronger and more resolute,” Iran’s Mission to the United Nations warned, even as it accused the United Nations Security Council of failing to stop Israel’s aggression.

    Israel’s army declared the Iran attacks “foiled” on Sunday, insisting that it had shot down 99 percent of the drones and missiles with the help of the United States and other allies.

    Iran’s attack received condemnation from United States President Joe Biden that resulted in further sanctions on the country on Thursday.

    Biden, in a statement, said the sanctions target “leaders and entities connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran’s Defense Ministry, and the Iranian government’s missile and drone program that enabled” the April 13 attack on Israel.

    “As I discussed with my fellow G7 [Group of Seven] leaders the morning after the attack, we are committed to acting collectively to increase economic pressure on Iran,” the US president said.

    “And our allies and partners have or will issue additional sanctions and measures to restrict Iran’s destabilizing military programs.”

    UN Secretary-General António Guterres had also condemned Iran’s attack on Israel, warning that the serious escalation of the conflict between the two countries poses a real danger of a regional war.

  • Rwanda Convention Bureau racks up Rwf122 billion in revenue for 2023

    RCB, in a report unveiled on Thursday, April 18, 2024, said this is the highest revenue earned since the inception of the Bureau in 2014.

    The institution hosted over 160 events and an estimated 65,000 delegates in 2023. 45 of these events are projected to generate revenues of $32 million (RWF 40.9 billion) over the upcoming years.

    Among the notable events successfully bided and hosted by RCB in 2023 were the International Congress on Conservation Biology in July, the Women Deliver Conference, the Basketball Africa League held in May, IRON MAN 70.3 Rubavu race and the 18th edition of the Peace Marathon hosted in June 2023 among others.

    In the entertainment and showbiz scene, Rwanda hosted two major events: the Trace Africa Music Awards and Festival, which brought together music, fashion, and arts, giving young and creative talents a global stage to showcase their skills; and The Move Afrika by Global Citizen, which was headlined by the globally renowned artist Kendrick Lamar.

    RCB Board Chairman Fred Swaniker expressed his confidence that the sector will continue to thrive in 2024 due to continued unwavering support from the Rwandan government and stakeholders.

    “In a very dynamic business landscape, it is important to stay ahead of the trend, and I am confident that the MICE sector will further increase its contribution to Rwanda’s economy through innovation. By investing in talent, infrastructure, and strategic initiatives, we aim to maintain our growth in the global MICE sector,” Swaniker stated.

    On her part, Janet Karemera, the Bureau CEO, noted that as part of its growth strategy this year, RCB is focused on enhancing delegates’ experience, strengthening collaboration with key stakeholders, exploring new partnerships, and attracting more business to Rwanda.

    The remarks come at a time when the tourism sector is projected to fully recover from the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, having made a significant rebound in 2023.

    According to a survey UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, the sector achieved 88 per cent growth of pre-pandemic levels last year.

    Total export revenues from tourism, encompassing passenger transport, reached approximately $1.6 trillion in 2023, nearly 95 per cent of the $1.7 trillion recorded in 2019. Projections suggest a continuation of this positive trend, with estimates indicating a 2 per cent growth in international tourist arrivals above 2019 levels.

    Rwanda Convention Bureau (RCB) hosted over 160 events and an estimated 65,000 delegates in 2023, earning the country million (RWF 121.5 billion) in revenue

  • Kenya’s President convenes urgent security meeting after military chief involved in chopper crash

    State House Spokesperson, Hussein Mohamed confirmed the meeting in a post on X on Thursday, April 18, 2024.

    “President William Ruto has convened an urgent meeting of the National Security Council at State House Nairobi this evening following a Kenya Defence Forces’ helicopter crash this afternoon in Elgeyo-Marakwet County,” Mohamed confirmed.

    Police say at least five people died after the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) helicopter crashed and caught fire at the Kaben-Cheptulel border between Elgeyo Marakwet and West Pokot counties on Thursday afternoon.

    The CDF was accompanying seven other military personnel on a trip to Kenya’s North Rift region. The cause of the crash is yet to be established.

    Gen. Ogolla was sworn in as Kenya’s military boss on April 29, 2023.

    He took over the CDF mantle from Gen. Robert Kibochi whose term ended after 44 years in the military.

    Prior to assuming the CDF role, Ogolla served as the Commander of the Air Force and Vice Chief of Defence Forces.